SPOTLIGHT

Exciting news! The Gunes family (operators of the kebab shop) have taken over the chippy! They have renovated the kitchen so they can offer the tastiest fish & chips about! Fried chicken is on the menu too! Follow them at Village Chippy & Fried Chicken Ynysybwl for more info.

The young man responsible for management is Bertan. He has recently moved to the village (straight out of university) to devote his energy to the two family owned takeaways. He loves living here and especially enjoys serving regulars late into the evening. He prides himself on the high quality, made to order meals he and his team provide.

'From cradle to the grave.' An unofficial slogan brought to the Ynysybwl Community Centre eighteen years ago when Marianne Jones took the lead as Chairperson. She and her dedicated team of volunteers have evolved to meet financial demands (they are completely self-sufficient!) and appeal to all ages. The pandemic has proved especially challenging since they relied on their savings to pay the bills whilst shutdown. Thankfully 2021 has been a year of rebuilding and growth. The volunteers offer delicious hot meals (weekdays at noon), bingo, friday friends, youth club, digital helpdesk and they act as a venue space for special events! Lots on offer and available to all. Marianne's primary motivation is the wellness of everyone connected to the centre. She hopes more people visit, volunteer, and get involved in years to come.

Love your neighbour. A principle self-supporting curate Peter Watson lives by. 

For the next eighteen months he will be at the helm of Christ Church Ynysybwl, alongside his professional career as an accountant (and while he finishes his theology training!). Peter has recently participated in a program called ‘Street Pastors’ in Cardiff. The mission is about christians rolling up their sleeves and getting involved in practically responding to the problems of crime and safety, primarily overnight. With that passion in mind, he is glad to support the village and individuals as best he can and welcomes messages to revpbw20@gmail.com .

Just over a year ago Rebecca House Howe went from being an animal lover to a canine care professional. She launched Sits And Wiggles - a bespoke dog walking business that caters for Ynysybwl, Coed-y-Cwm and Glyncoch. If you’ve seen her around that is because she often walks her clients up to fifteen miles a day! At the heart of her work is gaining the trust and respect of every dog she takes out. This doesn’t happen overnight, and she is committed to giving each unique pup the experience it needs. While deep in the trails she removes hazards and litter that could endanger - something that comes naturally and benefits all. 



In addition to her day-to-day efforts Rebecca has created the Ynysybwl Dog Club where owners can get to know one another and share information. In festive spirit all are welcome to join the group and get involved with the virtual christmas dog show!

The man beneath the moon. Mark Goodman, also known as local photographer Kraz Pixx regularly captures the natural beauty around us. His posts act as a reminder that we live somewhere special and should embrace the changing of the seasons.

Mark has grown his craft significantly in recent years (now including family photography) and especially over lockdown. He thrives on happiness and loves documenting special moments in his client's lives. As an avid walker and life-long resident he has explored every nook and cranny of Ynysybwl's landscape. He hopes that his photos reach the people who can't climb mountains anymore.

The history of Cresci's Cafe Ynysybwl is rich, deep, and four generations in the making. Giovanni Cresci at age fourteen left Bardi, Italy in search of opportunity alongside the mines in the UK. After years of migration by foot and grafting he managed to establish his own cafe in Ynysybwl. The work load was immense and the large family rose to the occasion in service to the mining community.



Sixteen years ago Tony and Rhian Howells felt passionate about reopening the Italian cafe established in 1905 by his great-grandfather - and they are the only ones in Wales to manage that feat! The care and personal attention offered by Rhian and her team is what the cafe is known for, as they offer delicious, thoughtfully prepared meals and delivery. Walking into Cresci's simply connects you with the industrial heritage of our forefathers.

Lucinda Cadwallader makes the most of every waking hour. By day she operates Little Me House and Little Play House and by night she offers affordable, heart-pumping fitness sessions, known as 'Little Reckers'. She designs the workouts to accommodate beginners and athletes alike. Her enthusiasm is palpable. Most importantly she reminds her students that they are worthy of self-care, health, and happiness. It is clear that empowering and educating are Lucinda's passions, whether that is one of her half dozen team members (majority of which live in the village), her fitness clients or the many children she cares for.

Trail blazers at work! About four years ago Ian Barker tied up a bag at the Coed y Cwm entrance of the Lady Windsor trail in the hopes he would see less dog's mess hanging from the trees on his twice daily walk with Buster. It quickly filled up. Over the following months his efforts grew to a network of recycling and waste bags from the pit entrance to the high school.

He credits Buster with becoming an accidental environmentalist. He's definitely not doing it for the fame but he hopes more people get involved, use the bags and continue to enjoy the cared for paths.

Mam of four Claire Griffiths is fiercely protective of Ynysybwl and Coed y Cwm. She has sprung into digital action on numerous occasions over recent years. It all started when she got fed up of seeing perfectly good items getting thrown away and fly-tipped around the village. It led to the creation of  Trash to Treasure Ynysybwl as well as Items For Sale, Swap Or Free In Ynysybwl - with thousands of users and hundreds of local transactions to her credit. Claire is quick to remind that she is supported by three other hardworking admins.

In addition to her recycling endeavours Claire rallied the village to support the victims of the 2020 floods. Her response to the tragic circumstances came as instinctively as tending her own children.

Lee Matthews and Elizabeth Corbally are the new operators of the Roberttown Pub located in the heart of the village. They have painstakingly renovated and modernised with the aim of making the venue a destination for all. They organise entertainers, karaoke, sports viewing, private events all whilst keeping the bar offers fresh and enticing. There are evening clubs running on site: snooker Wednesdays, pool Thursdays and darts on Fridays. This family is hard at work and open seven days a week serving our community.

Sarah Thomas is a second generation uniform, embroidery and printing retailer that trades in the heart of Ynysybwl. She and her husband Matthew established MST Sports Ltd in 2018. The shop is abuzz with the fall school uniform rush, and it is clear they are a place many in the community rely upon. The couple go out of their way to provide holiday cheer and support to charitable causes too.

Peek inside the The Traditional Toy Box Company! Have you ever wondered about the workshop in Ebenezer Capel on Robert Street? Local artisan and owner Nikohl Davies gave us a glimpse inside. She and her team of assistants handcraft customized toy boxes from scratch. The process takes many hours, creativity and attention to detail. It starts with joinery and ends with shipping all over the country!



Personalisation is at the heart of Nikohl's company. She strives to capture her customer's vision in every project and she embraces a new challenge. The building is home to others working in the creative arts too. Nikohl was raised in Ynysybwl (as were generations before her) and she is proud to build her business in our village. It is exciting to see.

Well done to all involved with the Tipsy Challenge! 52 teams raising much needed funds for Butcher's Pool, Dewi's Dreams (a critical operation needed abroad), Cefn Primary School (to restore the damage caused by arson in their outdoor space) and Daf's Fund. Please stop by the Rugby Club to drop in a donation anytime this weekend if you'd like to pitch in.

We tip our hats to Siony Griffiths (a full-time active member of the Army) and his fellow organisers for transforming the village into a playground for these wonderful causes. Every aspect has been carefully planned and it was no small feat in 2021!

Lloyd Coombs first stepped into the woodland above Green Park when he was five years old. Seventy years on and he treats the winding, looping trail system as his own. The reality is without volunteers such as himself (and his apprentice Lloyd Instrell) the pathways would be lost. Together they rake leaves, clear fallen trees, dangling branches, and trip hazards. They've built two benches for all to enjoy too.

They make a great team and we are so fortunate to enjoy the fruits of their labour. Thank you for your contributions to the village and Green Park! To everyone out there tending our public spaces we salute you as well.

How lucky are we to have Siop y Bwl . Gareth and Rita-Jane James offer a little bit of everything in the village shop, but most importantly a personal, caring service. They continuously stock many different locally sourced, essential, non-essential, useful, delicious and beautiful items. The produce is carefully selected and seasonal. Everything they offer is with great consideration.



During the pandemic the family switched gears to accommodate home deliveries and pick-up orders on an unprecedented scale. It was a comfort to many in the village. We'd love to hear about your favourite items from the shop or a time they made your day. If you haven't already check them out!

We tracked down Elaine Rees and she confirmed the congregation are glad to welcome new and returning members for weddings, christenings and in general! They look after St. Gwynno's and are based at Christ Church (just off Heol-y-Plyf). Feel free to inquire after service which is 10am Wednesdays and 11am Sundays. All Covid guidance is still under close consideration.

We also learned that in partnership with Tabanacle, Zion, and Glyn Street Chapels the places of faith never stopped collecting necessities for the food bank during the pandemic. A monumental effort as demand was very high. Christ Church is a donation drop-off spot if you would like to get involved. Doors are open at service times!

Thank you Elaine for filling us in and for over fifty years volunteering in the church and for the community. It was lovely to learn about the efforts of the committee and parishioners to keep in touch with the many who were stuck in and at highest risk. Adapting with zoom and by phone, a testament to the strength of the fellowship. Thank you all.

Charlie the peacock is alive and well! Our unofficial pandemic village mascot has been fairly well behaved since his fifteen minutes of fame back in Spring 2020 according to his owner. Phew!

For those of you that don't know - wildlife enthusiast Mark Dee crafted a series of ponds beginning fifteen years ago, perched high above the pit site with the support of the family plant hire business. It is a magical place and sitting by the water, birdwatching (feeding bread allowed!) is an absolute pleasure. Neighbours are welcome.